Warden sacked for alleged VIP treatment of Ampatuans

UPDATED 1:30 p.m. - Interior Secretary Jesse Robredo has relieved the warden of the Quezon City Jail Annex in Taguig City following accusations that the suspects and the accused in the Maguindanao massacre case are receiving special treatment while in detention. Robredo said Chief Inspector Glennford Valdepeñas has been placed under administrative relief but quickly noted that this does not mean that the warden has been proven guilty of giving the Ampatuans special treatment. "It just means that there is an allegation that he was giving them special treatment. Gusto namin malaman kung totoo (We want to know if that's true)," Robredo told GMA News Online in a phone interview on Friday. The development came after Maguindanao Gov. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu, whose wife and sisters were among the massacre victims, showed to the media photographs showing Andal Ampatuan Sr., a prime suspect in the case, being able to stay outside his detention cell. Robredo, however, said they still have to confirm the dates of Mangudadatu's photos, because Valdepeñas assumed his post only last April 7. "Kailangan kasi namin makita yung petsa... gusto namin kumpleto (We need to see the dates so that our evidence is complete)," Robredo said. In an earlier interview, Valdepeñas denied that he gave the Ampatuans special treatment. He likewise said that the pictures presented by Mangungudatu and the supposed "special treatment" did not happen under his tenure. Defense lawyer Gregorio Narvasa echoed Valdepeñas and said his client Andal Sr. is not receiving any special treatment, adding that the former official is in fact is still suffering from a swollen left foot. 20 jail personnel Aside from Valdepeñas, 20 jail personnel were relieved. Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) director Rosendo Dial told GMA News Online that Valdepeñas and 20 jail personnel were relieved to pave the way for an impartial investigation on Mangudadatu's allegations. Dial said Valdepeñas would be replaced by Senior Inspector Edgard Camos. To prevent inmates at the QC Jail Annex from getting too acquainted with jail officials, Dial has made it a point to reshuffle officials every three months. With Mangudadatu's claims, however, Valdepeñas supposed three-month term was cut short. He assumed the post on April 7. Puno to head investigation He said Interior Undersecretary Rico Puno will head the investigation into the alleged special treatment of Andal Sr, which he said he hopes will not last than two weeks. "Kapag napantunayan namin (If the allegation is proven) penalties will be applied (to Valdepeñas)," he said. Robredo noted, however, that Valdepeñas' relief was not an uncommon procedure in the Department of Interior and Local Government. He said that they always place officers under administrative relief if there are allegations made against them. Currently detained at the jail facility in Taguig are six prominent members of the Ampatuan clan — patriarch Andal Sr; his sons Andal Jr, Rizaldy, and Sajid; and their relatives Akmad "Tato" Ampatuan Sr., and Anwar Ampatuan Sr. Mangudadatu's claims Mangudadatu on Thursday released photographs showing Andal Sr. being able to get out of his detention facility but still inside the facility's compound. In some of the photographs, Andal Sr. was shown with at least 13 supposed visitors - including his wife. Mangudadatu said he considered it special treatment because jail officers have told him that a detainee is only allowed to have three visitors every day. Mangudadatu also said some of the people in the photographs - which he said came from a reliable source - were Andal Sr's personal cook and masseur, who were allegedly inmates themselves. Nothing irregular Dial told reporters on Thursday night that he found nothing "irregular" in the photographs shown by the Maguindanao governor. Dial said inmates are really allowed to go out of their detention cells for their regular physical fitness program. He also said he found nothing wrong with Andal Sr's visitors, saying they are allowed in the facility during visiting hours. Dial, who personally visited the Ampatuans Thursday morning, said there was no signs of special treatment inside the Ampatuans' detention cells. He also belied reports that there were airconditioning units inside the prison cell. "He was in the usual situation. Some of the inmates were lying down, some were sitting. But there was no aircon," he said. He added that he asked Andal Sr how he was, and the clan patriarch reportedly responded: "Okay naman." "Nandun naman siya nakaupo tapos palakad-lakad din nung dumating ako (I saw him inside his cell, sitting and then walking a bit when I arrived)," Dial said. The BJMP chief also said he doubted prosecution lawyer Harry Roque's claims that Andal Sr was seen having a meal at the Sofitel in Pasay City. Dial has already allowed seven counsels from the prosecution to conduct surprise inspections any time. For its part, the prosecution has not yet returned to jail facility saying a surprise visit was better than a scheduled one. - VVP/HS, GMA News